This time last year farmers around here were in strife. Water resources were drying up – or already barren in some cases – there was no feed in the paddocks and the salinity level in the Hunter River was causing chaos for vegetable and lucerne farmers who were desperately trying to keep their livelihoods afloat. 

Across the state, and even in parts of Queensland, it was a similar story. 

Today, unfortunately, not a lot has changed. While the Hunter was lucky to receive rain during the year, it wasn’t enough to break the drought. High temperatures in recent weeks are burning pastures and farmers have more challenges on the horizon.

We have fared much better than others though. In many parts of the state farmers are still waiting for rain and once fertile paddocks now resemble a desert.

My campaign, The Big Dry, has helped raise more than $20 million for drought-stricken farmers through donations to charity Rural Aid and saw more than 14,000 tonnes of hay delivered between January and November. 

It also sparked others to act – including volunteers, entire communities, businesses and all levels of government. That has expanded the support and assistance available and brought some relief to farmers. 

But while all of these measures have helped, it isn’t enough. We must also find more sustainable ways of growing food in our climate. 

Sustainable farming and preserving food bowls is the key to food security. I will continue to fight for our farmers in drought this year, but also plan to branch into a new awareness campaign focused on regenerative agriculture. 

It’s an extension of the Feeding the Future series we started three years ago, which looked at our shrinking food bowls and the need for quality produce that pays the farmer a fair price. 

It's all about carbon. In very simple terms, it’s about taking the carbon out of the air and putting it into the ground where it can drastically increase the soil’s water-storage capacity. If the soil contains 8 per cent of carbon that’s equivalent to about three swimming pools worth of water.

More water in the soil equals more drought tolerant pasture and crops.